[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dogcityld_12.jpeg]]''The Jim Henson Hour'' was Creator/JimHenson's last television series, and aired on NBC from April 14, 1989 to July 30, 1989. The first half of most of the hours was [[Franchise/TheMuppets 'Muppetelevision']], with the second half a half-hour special showcasing what else Henson could do with puppetry (and one Muppet special, ''Miss Piggy's Hollywood''). Several episodes of ''Series/TheStoryteller'' that hadn't yet aired in North America were originally aired here, as was the one-off special ''Dog City'', which inspired [[WesternAnimation/DogCity a TV series of the same name]]. One character named Clifford would go on to appear in other Muppet productions, such as hosting ''Series/MuppetsTonight'' and appearing in ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace''.

Unfortunately, it failed to catch on. ExecutiveMeddling resulted in a far less structured show than Henson had in mind, leaving audiences confused, and the new Muppets were largely a disappointment. A common refrain from critics was that people should skip the first half of each episode, and only tune in for the ''Storyteller'' segments. As a result, the show ended up being a total ratings failure. Twelve episodes were produced, but the ratings were so bad that NBC cancelled the show after only ''five'' episodes had aired. Four of the remaining episodes were burned off that July. Two more episodes premiered as stand-alone specials on Nickelodeon in 1992 and 1993. The last episode never aired in the United States, while it did air in the United Kingdom on December 30, 1990.

----!!Tropes featured include:

* BehindTheBlack: In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnbgPvgJuV8 the "Secrets" episode]], Gonzo and others are horrified and creeped out by their performers, who are visible in a long shot. When the camera moves in so only the upper halves of the puppets can be seen, he looks down and sees the floor again.-->'''Creator/JimHenson''': The fantasy always wins.* BrainWithAManualControl: In the episode "Outer Space", after Digit breaks down, Kermit, Lindbergh and Waldo go into his brain to fix him. They end up controlling Digit from the inside when they are unable to reach a button to release them out of his brain.* BunniesForCuteness: Bean Bunny's role as the RidiculouslyCuteCritter is repeatedly lampshaded.* ComplimentBackfire: Kermit gets the compliment-that-makes-you-feel-old from Vicki, who's been a huge fan of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' since kindergarten.* DancePartyEnding:** At the end of "The Ratings Game", Kermit laments that the show's fallen to pieces and needs ''something'' to save it -- so Bean Bunny launches into "La Bamba" and the rest of the cast (including characters from the preceding sketches) joins in.** The closing number for "Videotape", when Buster Poindexter hosts an "All Night Party".** The cast of Series/SesameStreet sings "Sing a Song" for the conclusion of the episode: ''Sesame Street: 20 Years..... And Still Counting''. As they pay tribute to Sesame Street composer, Joe Raposo.* DemotedToExtra[=/=]CommutingOnABus: Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear don't appear very often, as Creator/FrankOz was busy with movie projects (particularly ''Film/WhatAboutBob'') during the show's production. That said, they are very much the focus of ''Miss Piggy's Hollywood''.* DoNotAdjustYourSet: On ''Sesame Street: 20 Years and Still Counting'', Bill Cosby reminded viewers to not adjust their TV set after they ran ''Rubber Ducky'' in Multi-Language.* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: One episode that never aired on NBC, ''Living With Dinosaurs''. It subsequently premiered in [[TheNineties 1993]] on Nickelodeon as a stand-alone special.* GreenAesop: In one story narrated by Clifford, and in others.* {{Homage}}: The show was designed to be a Jim Henson version of ''Series/WaltDisneyPresents'' (hour-long, rotating subjects, Jim introducing and closing each episode, etc.). [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR8UbcmHcYI More so in the original pitch]], but still.* HostileShowTakeOver: Gonzo and Leon try this, but it's less hostile than usual as Kermit relishes the opportunity for a break. Consequently, things fall to pieces as no one can decide who should have Kermit's job.* IconicOutfit: Jim in those Cosby sweaters.* LaughTrack: In ''Miss Piggy's Hollywood'', Fozzie Bear's set at The Comedy Store (a RealLife stand-up comedy club) is heckled by Statler and Waldorf. He then reveals he brought a laugh track with him just in case, and when he uses it for the same routine, it works so well that they wind up ''surrendering'', complete with little white flags.* MassiveMultiplayerCrossover: In ''Secrets of the Muppets'', Rowlf oversees a meeting of various Muppet/Creature Shop dogs such as [[Film/{{Labyrinth}} Ambrosius]], [[Series/FraggleRock Sprocket]], the ''Dog City'' characters, and Series/TheStoryteller's dog.* NonHumanSidekick:** The Thought Lion from "[[Series/TheStoryteller The True Bride]]" joined Jim in the intros and closings.** In "Secrets of the Muppets", Jim is accompanied by a dog named Jojo who acts as TheWatson.* OminousMultipleScreens: Well, maybe not so ominous. The Muppet control room on consists of hundreds and hundreds of TV screens. This made sense, as the idea was that Kermit the Frog assembled the show by tuning into every television feed in the universe and picking the best stuff. This being the Muppets, characters could also get flung out of screens and into the control room itself.* {{Revival}}: Of ''Series/TheMuppetShow''.* TheScottishTrope: In the cheeky behind-the-scenes special ''Secrets Of The Muppets'', another program that wouldn't air during the NBC run but later appeared on Nickelodeon, it's revealed that most of the Muppets are very sensitive about "the 'P' word".* SerendipitousSymphony: In ''The Song of the Cloud Forest''.* SimilarSquad: An episode featured the characters receiving footage of an alien TV show starring the [[SdrawkcabName Teppums]], including Timrek the Gorf and Oznog.* SdrawkcabName: One episode featured the Teppums, with Timrek the Gorf and Oznog.* TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat: Gonzo leaves to do a poultry show across town, but has Digit 'pre-record' himself to make an appearence on [=MuppeTelevision=], and is just ''that good'' at predicting what will happen.** Even after Kermit fast forwards to the end of the recording in order to get rid of it, it ''still'' has the prescience to complain about this before departing.

See the ''WesternAnimation/DogCity'' page for tropes from that special.----